Traveling with Unfamiliar Companions (3) Bubbling Soup
I looked at Ruman with sharp eyes.
“Adults should originally be respected and get along well. Don’t you even know that??”
“What?”
Ruman laughed, making a deflating sound.
“As if Ren would do that.”
“Huh. How much do you know about me….”
“Right. I don’t know, so that’s why I’m asking like this.”
“…What will you do by knowing.”
“Well. Still, won’t the boring night watch pass quickly?”
“……”
When he said it like that, I had nothing to say.
Am I being too sensitive for no reason? Maybe Ruman won’t really pay much attention to my story.
Thinking that way made me feel at ease. Also… I wanted to say something too, so my mouth started itching.
“What are you curious about.”
I had mountains of things to say!
But I can’t just say boring things. Say it, Ruman! What are you curious about!
When I blinked my sleepy eyes and looked, Ruman rubbed his chin.
“Just. Who you were close with, what the village was like, things like that? I’m a bit curious about the story of someone who lived in one place for a long time.”
Ah. Well, Heroes are always wandering around. Is he curious about that?
I scratched my cheek. I don’t have any stories grand or touching enough to tell. The one anecdote I have with the pharmacist old man, I can’t tell.
“I don’t have any touching stories.”
That’s why I grumble.
The only fun thing in the village was secretly stealing a puppy that was about to go into the soup.
“I’m just curious about an ordinary life. I don’t really like touching things. Life isn’t like that.”
Ruman had a slightly cynical attitude.
He doesn’t like touching things… even if I can’t tell the pharmacist old man’s story, I don’t have to feel sorry! But why am I hurt. Life isn’t like that.
I stared at Ruman’s golden eyes that somehow looked empty.
“Why?”
“I was just staring. Um…. I wasn’t really close with the village people. When hyung gave me a lot of allowance, there were many things at home, you know?”
Uwah. I’m sleepy…… If I fall asleep now, I’ll get indigestion. I opened my eyes wide.
I don’t know if Ruman is listening or not. Flames flickered on his face. Because of that, even though his face was tinged red, Ruman’s face only looked cold.
“But you see…. I bought a bunch of things from the merchant who comes once a month…. but they said their house doesn’t have tea, doesn’t have medicine, doesn’t have blankets, so they all took them one by one….”
“What?”
Ruman asked back as if he didn’t understand. That’s right!! You don’t understand either, right?
“They took them!”
“They took them?”
“Yeah. Because they said they don’t have them, they’re short…. *sseup*.”
You didn’t see, right? I wiped the drool from my mouth and opened it again.
“I thought one or two could be like that…. but when all the village people took one or two each… there was nothing left!! I endured without blankets until the merchant came then, and it was so cold!!”
My teeth ground together.
“Whew. It’s an old story though.”
Did I get too excited? I felt awkward and scratched the back of my head, but huh? Ruman’s eyes were somehow… fierce.
“You just left it like that? Gave it all? As much as they asked?”
I squinted my eyes.
“Then what should I do!! Did I give it because I wanted to?! When they say Heroes should help those in need, I can’t tarnish hyung’s name! Of course I have to give it!”
“No different from bandits. So that’s why Temarr didn’t give you allowance?”
“Hyung said the kingdom didn’t give money.”
“What?”
Ruman made a face like what absurd thing is this.
“Money is earned through sweat, and I’m too wasteful…. I did buy several of the same things, but that’s all because the village people asked for them and I gave them….”
Mmm. I think I also splurged sometimes.
Ruman’s eyes became increasingly fierce.
“Th-there was this annoying mill owner’s son and bakery owner’s son….”
Why does my voice keep getting smaller!
“Th-those with bad habits?”
“Huh? Right. Anyway… they were so annoying that I took a bunch of money hyung gave me and went, ahem. I acted crazy a bit….”
“So after that Temarr didn’t give you allowance? Saying the kingdom didn’t give money?”
“Yeah. But isn’t that too much?! How much work has hyung done, yet they don’t give money!! I don’t care about not having allowance, but… shouldn’t they give the Hero’s compensation generously?! On hyung’s back, there are still scars from the 7-Year War…!”
I, who had been talking rapidly, shut my mouth.
“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk about the war.”
“No. I should talk with Temarr.”
“What will you talk about??”
“……”
“……?”
Ruman stared at me intently.
Why??
“Tell me more. It’s interesting.”
Ruman’s eyes gleamed.
“Interesting??”
His eyes look fierce though? No? Ruman’s mouth was smiling and his voice was calm too.
“Does it help wake you up?”
When I asked sneakily, Ruman grinned.
“Sleep? Huhu. I’m so clear-headed it’s chilling. My eyes are wide open.”
“Really? Then well….”
I was half drunk on sleep. When I tried to fall asleep, Ruman woke me, soothed me, and asked. Can a person get drunk on sweetness too?? I seemed to have chattered all night about what I experienced in the village as small talk, caught by Ruman’s coaxing!
The problem is I don’t remember well what I said!
I only remembered Ruman’s reactions in between,
“Should I kill them?”
“Should I break them??”
“Should I blow off their wrists?”
“Should I tear off their buttocks?”
“Should I pluck out all their hair?”
They were all just things like this.
No, what on earth did I talk about??
***
“Did you wake up?”
“Yeah…?”
“Here.”
“……?”
“Your face is swollen. Apply a compress.”
“Th… thank you?”
“Hahaha!”
What. Why is he like that.
When I woke up at dawn light, I was wrapped tightly in blankets.
The campfire was also blazing so much that my face was cooking rather than just being hot.
Fortunately, maybe because I slept warmly, my condition got a bit better! Isn’t this much better than cold medicine? I blinked my eyes, then pressed the water pouch Ruman gave me before leaving against my cheek.
“Heueut. Cold.”
Where did he draw this from??
More than that, why is he like that?
Ruman, every time our eyes met, smiled with his eyes beautifully creased…. Because he’s excessively kind, it’s rather scary. Did I misspeak yesterday? Every time our eyes met, I hastily turned my gaze away.
“Apply the medicine.”
Why is Princess Coco like that again.
From the morning, she nagged me to apply medicine.
Don’t you remember we fought like dogs yesterday? Why are you being so burdensome!!
Running away from them in a hurry… *thud!* I bumped into someone.
“Aah…. Hyung.”
What was hard enough to make my bones ring was hyung’s broad chest muscles!
It hurt almost like I hit a rock!! I rubbed my forehead and realized hyung was holding my shoulders.
Th-thank you, I should say…… I couldn’t lift my head because I was embarrassed.
Ah. Ahhhhh! I should have made up yesterday! I should have reconciled with hyung and slept!!
Now that it’s morning, rather than getting better, it’s awkward! I hate being awkward with hyung!
“Uh….”
I was trying hard to open my mouth when Ruman called hyung.
“Temarr. Let’s talk.”
It was a cool and low voice.
Like the first day when he came with a vicious letter to take hyung away! Ruman looked at me standing behind hyung and smiled round and round.
Hyung let go of the hand gripping my shoulder and walked toward Ruman.
“What…. You don’t even want to talk to me?”
I was blankly watching his back when tears welled up.
“This is annoying, really……”
I rubbed my eyes roughly.
If you keep ignoring me, I’ll ignore hyung too!
Though I probably can’t last even 1 minute. Tsk.
Ruman took hyung away and was saying something something, and Princess Coco was sitting with a blank face.
She changed clothes today too. The big ribbon… was tacky! But because Princess Coco is pretty, it somehow suited her well too. When our eyes met, she glared then gestured.
“Please have a meal.”
Sir Del was just transferring the fully cooked soup into bowls.
When I naturally went that way, Del gave me a bowl.
“……”
“You eat.”
Isn’t hyung eating? I was looking at the two people in conversation when Princess Coco held out a bowl.
“……”
“Your eyeballs will pop out.”
Why are you picking a fight from the morning!
I glared at Princess Coco and drank the soup.
Mmm. It’s delicious but… when I eat just this soup, I get sleepy and my stomach feels twisted.
Is it just me?
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I don’t normally eat breakfast. I’ll gain weight.”
“Can’t you gain weight?”
“Tsk! Even if I tell you, you won’t understand anyway?”
“You’re looking down on people….”
I don’t have the energy to get angry.
She watched me eating in small bites while twirling her long hair, then pouted her lips.
“Did you get indigestion again?”
“It’s none of your business.”
Right. My stomach started twisting.
I felt the blood drain from my face. When I put down the spoon, a displeased gaze followed.
It wasn’t this bad…. I guess camping really doesn’t suit me.
I glanced around sneakily. Good, no one’s looking at me…… I shouted “Bathroom!” and ran quickly into the bushes. I ran in such a hurry I couldn’t hear the voice calling me. More than that, my stomach kept coming up…….
“Uweeeeek.”
I leaned against a tree trunk and threw up refreshingly. The disgusting smell of vomit seemed to have a rotten smell too.
“Wow, really a sickening color.”
The color of the vomit reflected in the dim light was still green. Was the herb color this strong? I’ve coughed up blood before, but I don’t remember just vomiting, so I’m not sure. Mmm.
When I wiped my mouth and came out, Del was looking at me.
“Heueok!”
His gaze touched the tree trunk.
“I was surprised, sorry. Hero-nim was worried about Ren, so I followed.”
I reflexively covered with my body where I had vomited. Did he see?! I hope he didn’t see. He probably didn’t!
“It’s right in front, so what….”
Anyway, just startling people. I didn’t like him from the start!
I grumbled and asked if the Hero he’s talking about is our hyung. At my question, Del smiled amiably.
“You seem to get along well with hyung.”
“…Isn’t that obvious? Our hyung is the best.”
The 3 seconds of silence, I can explain that! It’s because I got scolded by hyung yesterday so it’s awkward. What if Del questions whether we’re actually on bad terms? No, would he even question?!
At my confident voice, he laughed saying it looks good.
“I also got along well with my younger sibling.”
Ugh. He’s not talking about the younger sibling who went to war, right? I don’t want to hear sad stories.
I became a bit nervous. Del’s gaze slowly swept over me.
“I’m envious. It’s nice, the affectionate brotherly love.”
Del said that and grinned. Unlike before, it was a smile that made the scar across his face stand out. When I froze while looking at him in hesitation, Ruman called me loudly. I quickly ran to him. What? My heart pounded. Is it because he’s handsome??
***
“Should we clean up and depart soon?”
The blue light just before sunrise enveloped us.
Whether the conversation was finished, Ruman returned first. At Ruman’s fingertips, a yellow light was forming, and that light disappeared when I tried to look closely.
When will hyung come? When I peeked behind Ruman, he said “Hm?” and looked behind himself. After a little time passed, hyung also came. Where did he go in that brief moment? Water was dripping from Temarr hyung’s face. It quickly froze and ice fragments hung on his hair. You were right there just now?! When on earth did you wash up? You’ll catch a cold like that.
I want to talk to him.
“Hyung….”
Hyung got on the horse without even looking at me.
Is he still angry?? Because I didn’t apologize?
I was restless, only looking at hyung, when a slender hand grabbed my wrist and pulled.
